Origin of highly siderophile and chalcogen element fractionations in the components of unequilibrated H and LL chondrites

Osmium isotopic compositions, abundances of highly siderophile elements (HSE: platinum group elements, Re and Au), the chalcogen elements S, Se and Te and major and minor elements were analysed in physically separated size fractions and components of the ordinary chondrites WSG 95300 (H3.3, meteorite find) and Parnallee (LL3.6, meteorite fall). Fine grained magnetic fractions are 268-65 times enriched in HSE compared to the non-magnetic fractions. A significant deviation of some fractions of WSG 95300 from the 4.568 Ga ¹⁸⁷Re-¹⁸⁷Os isochron was caused by redistribution of Re due to weathering of metal. HSE abundance patterns show that at least four different types of HSE carriers are present in WSG 95300 and Parnallee. The HSE carriers display (i) CI chondritic HSE ratios, (ii) variable Re/Os ratios, (iii) lower than CI chondritic Pd/Ir and Au/Ir and (iv) higher Pt/Ir and Pt/Ru than in CI chondrites. These differences between components clearly indicate the loss of refractory HSE carrier phases before accretion of the components. Tellurium abundances correlate with Pd and are decoupled from S, suggesting that most Te partitioned into metal during the last high-temperature event. Tellurium is depleted in all fractions compared to CI chondrite normalized Se abundances. The depletion of Te is likely associated with the high temperature history of the metal precursors of H and LL chondrites and occurred independent of the metal loss event that depleted LL chondrites in siderophile elements. Most non-magnetic and slightly magnetic fractions have S/Se close to CI chondrites. In contrast, the decoupling of Te and Se from S in magnetic fractions suggests the influence of volatility and metal-silicate partitioning on the abundances of the chalcogen elements. The influence of terrestrial weathering on chalcogen element systematics of these meteorites appears to be negligible.     

Quantitative biostratigraphy and species evolutionary sequence

Introduction of species evolutionary sequence into the quantitative biostratigraphy is a significant work, either for studying biologic evolution or for making stratigraphic correlation and reconstructing geologic history. The quantitative biostratigraphy is to determine biostratigraphic event sequences by using probabilistic analysis. The evolutionary sequence systematics can efficiently ascertain species evolutionary sequences. Two methods have been proposed to determine the sequence of species-disappearance events: (1) species extinction events can be closed by last occurrence events using quantitative biostratigraphic analysis; (2) the duration of a species may be approximately replaced by the duration of its parent species. To combine these two methods for determining the sequence of species disappearance is the best way up to now. A consulting standard sequence that consists of the speciation sequence of Permian waagenophylloid corals and the biostratigraphic event sequence of other important fossils in Permian is used as an example. The group spearman rank-correlation test is used to test the consulting standard sequence by comparing four types of calculations and two kinds of sequences and to find abnormal events. Based on the found abnormal events in the test, the consulting standard sequence is revised to deal with different conditions. Sequences of speciation and species-disappearance, and species duration are determined. Application of species evolutionary sequence to quantitative biostratigraphy can largely improve the quality of biostratigraphic event sequence. In stratigraphic correlation, furthermore, event sequences have higher precision than range biozones.     

The Coupled Re—Os and Pt—Os Systematics：A Theoretical Consideration

The ^190Pt-^186Os system should be a unique tracer for mantle processes be-cause both Pt and Os are concentrated in the mantle.The ^190Pt-^186Os system will also be a good supplement to the ^187Re-^187Os system for dating and tracing mantle pro-cesses because the ^190Pt-^186Os system is not so easily contaminated by crustal materials as the ^187Re-^187Os system.In turn,the application of the ^187Re-^187Os system to Pt-enriched materials uncontaminated by crustal materials will indirectly refine the half life of ^190Pt.The ^190Pt is refined.In the coupled ^187Re-^187Os and ^190Pt-^186Os sys-tematics,an ^186Os*/^190Pt-^187Os*/^187Re Concordia diagram similar to the ^206Pb*/^238U-^208Pb*/^232Th Concordia can be constructed.In such a Concordia diagram,a date will be obtained so long as the ^190Pt-^186Os system remains closed even if the ^187Re-^187Os sys -tem is contaminated by crustal materials.In addition ,for the coupled ^190Pt-^186Os and ^187Re-^187Os systematics,the mantle processes and the interactions between the mantle and the crust will be described by two ratios:^186Os/^188Os and ^187Os/^188Os .The coupled ^187Re-^187Os and ^190Pt-^186Os systematics will be a powerful tool in the investigation of the geodynamic history of the Earth because the ^187Re-^187Os system is sensitive to the interactions between the mantle and the crust,while the ^190Pt-^186Os system is a good tracer for mantle processes.     

孔子鸟化石研究新进展

孔子鸟（Confuciusornis）是最早具有角质喙及尾综骨的原始鸟类化石，同时兼具明显原始和显著进步的特征，在研究鸟类的早期演化方面具有极为重要的意义。孔子鸟头骨为典型的原始双孔类型，其角质喙与其它鸟类的角质喙是在进化过程中分别独立获得的。孔子鸟具有肋骨钩状突，这很可能代表着一种原始性状。孔子鸟飞羽发达，但未发育小翼羽。孔子鸟与长城鸟（Changchengornis)构成一组姊妹群，反鸟类(Enantiornithes)与今鸟类（Ornithurae)变构成一组姊妹群，这两类群又互为姊妹群关系。在孔子鸟已命名的4个种中，川州种（C.chuanzhous)和孙氏种（C.sunae)是圣贤种（C.sanctus)的晚出同物异名，应予以废弃。孔子鸟主要适应陆地生活，具有较强的飞行能力，并能够从地面起飞。目前关于孔子鸟的地质时代仍存在着晚侏罗世与早白垩世之争，但大多数动物化石都证实了孔子鸟层为晚侏罗世的观点。     

Xiba Granitic Pluton in the Qinling Orogenic Belt,Central China: Its Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

Xiba granitic pluton is located in South Qinling tectonic domain of the Qinling orogenic belt and consists mainly of granodiorite and monzogranite with significant number of microgranular quartz dioritic enclaves. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic dating reveals that the quartz dioritic enclaves formed at 214±3 Ma, which is similar to the age of their host monzogranite (218±1 Ma). The granitoids belong to high-K calc-alkaline series, and are characterized by enriched LILEs relative to HFSEs with negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, and right-declined REE patterns with (La/Yb)N ratios ranging from 15.83 to 26.47 and δEu values from 0.78 to 1.22 (mean= 0.97). Most of these samples from Xiba granitic pluton exhibit εNd(t) values of ?8.79 to ?5.38, depleted mantle Nd model ages (TDM) between 1.1 Ga and 1.7 Ga, and initial Sr isotopic ratios (87Sr/86Sr)i from 0.7061 to 0.7082, indicating a possible Meso- to Paleoproterozoic lower crust source region, with exception of samples XB01-2-1 and XB10-1 displaying higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.779 and 0.735, respectively, which suggests a contamination of the upper crustal materials. Quartz dioritic enclaves are interpreted as the result of rapid crystallization fractionation during the parent magmatic emplacement, as evidenced by similar age, texture, geochemical, and Sr-Nd isotopic features with their host rocks. Characteristics of the petrological and geochemical data reveal that the parent magma of Xiba granitoids was produced by a magma mingling process. The upwelling asthenosphere caused a high heat flow and the mafic magma was underplated into the bottom of the lower continent crust, which caused the partial melting of the lower continent crustal materials. This geodynamic process generated the mixing parent magma between mafic magma from depleted mantle and felsic magma derived from the lower continent crust. Integrated petrogenesis and tectonic discrimination with regional tectonic evolution of the Qinling orogen, it is suggested that the granitoids are most likely products in a post-collision tectonic setting.     

Ibla cumingi (Crustacea, Cirripedia) -A Gonochoristic Species (Anatomy, Dwarfing and Systematic Implications)

Abstract. Ibla cumingi (Crustacea, Cirripedia) is a gonochoristic species with dwarf males. The anatomy of both sexes is described and compared with that of other Cirripedia s. str. Systematic implications on the basis of anatomy and biology are given. The degree of dwarfing in the male and the possible cause and way of reduction are discussed.     

Primitive Ordovician (Floian) echinoderms from Sandu,Guizhou Province,South China,and their significance

Pelmatozoans diversified primarily during the Middle and Late Ordovician Period, with Early Ordovician records being much more limited, resulting in many gaps in our knowledge of the early stages of their diversification. Dissociated pelmatozoan ossicles have been found abundantly in one section in the Tonggao Formation (Tetragraptus approximatus Biozone, Floian, Early Ordovician). Most of the ossicles are thecal plates and stem ossicles from hemicosmitoid and glyptocystitoid cystoids. Thecal plates of ‘Cheirocrinus’ sp., Polycosmites sp., and other plates of uncertain affinity are described. A different ossicle type, Pentagonopentagonalis (col.), may represent crinoid remains; this would be one of the earliest occurrences of the class. The thecal ossicles and columnals are all considered, as both sets of data are desirable to determine the most complete estimate of generic diversity. The echinoderm ossicles may have been transported in from shallower water palaeoenvironments and clusters of ossicles may represent coprolites or regurgitates. Estimates of Early Ordovician palaeogeography that place this site at 30°S or near the palaeoequator are supported by the physiological requirements of the primitive echinoderms described herein. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronology and petrogenesis of the Hejiazhuang granitoid pluton and its constraints on the Early Triassic tectonic evolution of the South Qinling Belt

The Hejiazhuang pluton is located in the South Qinling Tectonic Belt(SQTB)in the north side of the Mianxian-Lueyang Suture Zone,and consists dominantly of granodiorites.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses reveal that these granodiorites of the Hejiazhaung pluton emplaced at~248 Ma,and show a large variation in zirconεHf(t)values from4.8 to 8.8.These granodiorite samples are attributed to high-K to mid-K calc-alkaline series,and characterized by high SiO2(66.6%–70.0%),Al2O3(15.04%–16.10%)and Na2O(3.74%–4.33%)concentrations,with high Mg#(54.2–61.7).All samples have high Sr(627–751 ppm),Cr(55–373 ppm)and Ni(17.2–182 ppm),but low Y(5.42–8.41 ppm)and Yb(0.59–0.74 ppm)concentrations with high Sr/Y ratios(84.90–120.66).They also display highly fractionated REE patterns with(La/Yb)N ratios of 18.9–34.0 and positive Eu anomalies(δEu=1.10–2.22)in the chondrite-normalized REE patterns.In the primitive mantle normalized spidergrams,these samples exhibit enrichment in LILEs but depletion in Nb,Ta,P and Ti.These geochemical features indicate that the granodioritic magma of the Hejiazhuang pluton was derived from the partial melting of hybrid sources comprising the subducted oceanic slab and sediments,and the melts were polluted by the mantle wedge materials during their ascent.The emplacement ages and petrogenesis of the Hejiazhuang pluton prove that the initial subduction of the Mianlue oceanic crust occurred at~248 Ma ago,and the SQTB was still under subduction tectonic setting in the Early Triassic.     

Molecular and distribution data on the poorly known,elusive, cave mysid Harmelinella mariannae (Crustacea: Mysida)

Mediterranean underwater marine caves harbour abundant populations of several species of mysids that are increasingly used as biological models in ecological and evolutionary studies. One exception is the species Harmelinella mariannae, described in 1989 and then hardly ever again reported in the literature. We here provide the first data on the distribution of this poorly known taxon that, contrary to expectations for a rare brooding cave dweller, we now report from Madeira Island in the nearby Atlantic, to the easternmost parts of the Mediterranean. Brief behavioural observations are added, particularly its atypical solitary habits and its feeding behaviour as a high trophic level carnivore. Molecular characterization of the different specimens captured provided three sorts of information. Mitochondrial COI and 16S haplotypes suggest different colonization waves in the Mediterranean, with one group in the Eastern Basin, two in the Marseille region in the NW part of this sea, and another group with a very wide extension from Madeira to Liguria and Malta. Mitochondrial data also support that one of the groups in Marseille might have diverged as a cryptic species of Harmelinella. 18S rRNA gene displays a single common sequence to all specimens from the four groups, and seems to confirm the original proposed placement of this taxon within the subfamily Heteromysinae, not Leptomysinae.     

The Relationship between Tectono-metamorphic Evolution and Argon Isotope Records in White Mica: Constraints from in situ 40Ar-39Ar Laser Analysis of the Variscan Basement of Sardinia

The basement of Sardinia represents a nearly complete sectionof a segment of the Variscan belt that experienced a polyphasetectono-metamorphic evolution and Barrovian metamorphism. Thisbasement is well suited to investigate the relationship betweentectono-metamorphic evolution and argon isotope records in whitemica. Micaschists from the garnet zone (maximum T of up to 520–560°C)contain two texturally and chemically resolvable generationsof white mica: (1) deformed celadonite-rich flakes, defininga relict S₁ foliation preserved within the main S₂ foliationor enclosed in rotated albite porphyroblasts; (2) celadonite-poorwhite micas aligned along the main S₂ foliation. The S₁ foliationdeveloped earlier and at a deeper crustal level with respectto that at which the thermal peak was reached. From the staurolitezone (T of up to 590–625°C) to the sillimanite + K-feldsparzone, white mica is nearly uniform in composition (muscovite)and is predominantly aligned along the S₂ foliation or is oflater crystallization. In situ ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar laser analysesof white mica yielded ages of